scary world of house buying

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I take it as read as someone that got to "home-owner age" some time back and coming from the part of the country I do that of course:
a. A house will be freehold
b. There's no service charges or the like and the Council will be the ones fulfilling their responsibility for roads/communal areas.

These days and/or in different parts of the country - this may not necessarily be the case. So do make sure whether the house is "normal" in all respects regarding those things.

Unfortunately, money will never reveal where this "normal" place is. One wonders how all those people in "abnormal" houses manage!

However, as someone who once bought leasehold and who now lives on a private road, I can say that, for me at least, it's all been fine. The leader of our local district council also lives on this road, so it hasn't bothered him much either.

Yes, there are things to look out for, which is where the professionals you select come in.

In choosing a solicitor, you'd do this the same way as other service providers, by looking at their web site, ringing for more info and then speaking directly with them, face to face. By then you'll have a flavour of how they work and how easy it might be to speak with your solicitor, rather than always via a gatekeeper. Do this three times at least.

While it's true that solicitors must have uninterrupted time to do their most important stuff, mine promised me she would always respond same day to emails or calls...and she did.

Recently, I phoned the same firm to see if an appt. might be wise for a legal problem I was having. I was put straight through to a specialist in that area, who gave me 10 minutes of free advice, which was good enough to save the cost of a full consultation. He didn't even know I was a former customer. That's the sort of service you want, but I know it's not easy finding it.

Personal recommendation is still probably best, provided the individual giving it is up-to-date and switched on, not going by something that happened 20 years ago!

AdrianC

klew356 wrote: »

Why do you think you need a will now?

because i dont have one, and i really should!

OK... But why?


You say you're single. Who are you planning on leaving it to? Intestacy laws say that there's a definite progression of who inherits if you don't have a will. First comes your spouse, then children, then parents.
https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will


If you want to go for somebody other than that, then - yes - you need a will to be in place when you die. Are you planning on dying yet?

Need_a_name

Speak to friends/work colleagues re solicitors - I did and got a friends/family discount (as it is MSE!). Also, local was helpful - could pop in during lunch to return paperwork, sign stuff etc.

List off what is important and as you view you will get a sense of what you could compromise on within budget. Things like:

Off Street parking
Garden size
Distance/time for work commute

For me I learnt that unless I wanted to discount over 75% of the properties in the town I was looking in the front of house had to be straight on to the pavement - but I balanced that out by being on a no through road for vehicles along with proximity to train station

klew356

AdrianC wrote: »

OK... But why?


You say you're single. Who are you planning on leaving it to? Intestacy laws say that there's a definite progression of who inherits if you don't have a will. First comes your spouse, then children, then parents.
https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will


If you want to go for somebody other than that, then - yes - you need a will to be in place when you die. Are you planning on dying yet?

thank you for the link it was most helpful, not planning on going anywhere soon but i would rather it went to my godchildren than random aunts of cousins i havent seen or heard of in years!

klew356

Need_a_name wrote: »

Speak to friends/work colleagues re solicitors - I did and got a friends/family discount (as it is MSE!). Also, local was helpful - could pop in during lunch to return paperwork, sign stuff etc.

List off what is important and as you view you will get a sense of what you could compromise on within budget. Things like:

Off Street parking
Garden size
Distance/time for work commute

For me I learnt that unless I wanted to discount over 75% of the properties in the town I was looking in the front of house had to be straight on to the pavement - but I balanced that out by being on a no through road for vehicles along with proximity to train station

this house has off street parking, a good sized garden and not far from work :)

to give an update im viewing tomorrow night

ACG

Obviously I am biased but get a nice local broker on board - not an estate agent or a large company like L&C where it is a call centre.

Smaller local brokers are more likely to give you a personal service. You can call them up to bounce your ideas and thoughts off them. They are typically experienced (as you can not usually just pass your exams and open up on your own on day one). Where as you can pass your exams and work for an estate agent/call centre broker on day 1.

As they are smaller companies, they will usually care a lot more than if it were just a job.

klew356

ACG wrote: »

Obviously I am biased but get a nice local broker on board - not an estate agent or a large company like L&C where it is a call centre.

Smaller local brokers are more likely to give you a personal service. You can call them up to bounce your ideas and thoughts off them. They are typically experienced (as you can not usually just pass your exams and open up on your own on day one). Where as you can pass your exams and work for an estate agent/call centre broker on day 1.

As they are smaller companies, they will usually care a lot more than if it were just a job.

I am going to see a broker tonight, he was recommended by a friend who was also a first time buyer, he works for a small business in a local town and my parents have used this business before and recommended it also :money:

klew356

ACG wrote: »

Obviously I am biased but get a nice local broker on board - not an estate agent or a large company like L&C where it is a call centre.

is there any harm in speaking to more than one? or will i confuse matters? an old friend is also an advisor, she has just helped another friend who split with her partner to get the best mortgage deal?

ACG

No harm speaking to more than one I suppose. But as the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat, so you may find they give you different answers but will end up with a similar outcome so dont worry if they do give different views.

YoungBlueEyes

I'd say that as well as making a list of things you do want in a house, have a list of no-nos and a list of no-nos that you'll compromise on if the budget is tight. That worked for me

I echo what DoozerGirl said about surveyors. Ring round a few and see what they'll do for the money. I managed to find a really good one. He rang me when he'd finished the survey, sent me the survey the next day, and spent 90 minutes on the phone to me going through it all (this is my first time too). No question was too stupid for him to answer, he was calm and knowledgeable and worth his weight in gold!

When you get your survey results back, there are many people on here who'll help you decipher it. Some points will be stuff to sort out quickly and some will be to bear in mind for the future. A quick post on here will set your mind at rest